Bookbinding-machine.



A. BREDENBEHG.

BOOIKBINDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPTJI. 191s.

@muted Nom 27, 19m

LQASQQII 3 SHEETS-SHEET III Vemzmms':

A. BREDENBERG.

BOOKBINDING MACHINE. APPLICATION man sPT.4. 1915.

Eatentedi Nw| 27, 191?.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2- narran encarna iraniani@ cierren .ALFRED BREDENBERG, OF CHAMPLAIN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR F ONE-HALF TO TSHE SHERIDAN IRON VTORKS, A CORPORATION OF 'NEW YORK, AND ONE-HALF T0 T. W. & C. B. SHERIDAN COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEWWORK.

BOOKBINDING-MACHTNE.

Specication of Letters Patent.

. Patented Nov. 2"?, 191'?.

Application led September 4, 1915. Sera1No.48,959.

Be it known that I, ALFRED BREDENBERG, a citizen of the United States, residing at Champlain, in the ycounty of Clinton and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful improvements in Bookbinding-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to bookbinding machines, and more articularly to mechanism for trimming the ack edge of the book, or rather, the signature-group, in the process of binding signatures into a book.

The invention is shown applied to that type of bookbinding machines wherein a succession of clamps are caused to travel around the machine so as to present the books or signature-groups held in the clamps successively to the various instruments or mechanism which perform the successive steps involved in book binding. Usually the first step is the even trimming of the back edges of the signatures so that the signature-group will be in proper condition for the succeedin operations which may, for example, comprise attachment of the signatures by adhesive or by metallic fastenings or otherwise, and the application by adhesive of a cover.

Heretofore the trimming of the signaturegroup has frequently been effected by a cutting mechanism in which a knife is pressed forcibly against a cutting block. This arrangement has involved certain disadvantages. Thus it was necessary either to feed the books intermittently in order to maintain them stationary during the trimming, or, on the other hand, reciprocate longitudinally the trimming mechanism. Moreover, the trimming was not entirely satisfactorily and' uniformly eected,` since the rapid wear upon the knife affected the result of the trimming action. 'ln consequence frequent removal and replacement or'readjustment of the knife was necessary.

The main object of the present invention is -to afford a book trimming mechanism adapted to use in the art of bookbinding which is superior to heretofore known trim- `ming mechanisms in its greater eiiiciency,

convenience and durability. It is a further object to overcome the specific defects of the prior mechanisms referred to.

A further object hereof is to afford a book trimming mechanism wherein a continuous trimming knife or blade is caused to travel at high speed constantly in one direction and to effect the trimming of the book by reason of relative feed movement between the book clamp and the band knife.

This advantageous arrangement further permits the books to be fed continuously if desired, rather than intermittently, since either mode of travel of the books furnishes the necessary relative feed for the cutting operation by the rapidly traveling band knife.

Another object of the present invention is to provide constantly acting means for automatically maintaining the sharpness of the cutting edge of the band knife, and the adaptability of this type of trimming mechanism to such automatic sharpening constitutes another advantage thereinf`f-f* Another object hereof is to provide certain advantageous guiding` and supporting means which insure the proper relation at all times between the book and the band knife at the cutting-point.-

Other and further objects and advantages hereof will be elucidated in the hereinafter following description, and further advantages in the present inventionwill be apparent to those skilled `in the art.

This application, showin Vloooktrimming mechanism, and my co-pen ing application, Serial No. 108,994, led July 13th, 1916, showing a pervious-strip applying meenanism, illustrate detached portions of a complete bookbinding machine, the remainder of which is shown in my co-pending application, Serial No. 120,133, filed September 14th, 1916.

Tn the accompanying drawings which contain an illustration of one form in which the present invention may be embodied, Figure 1 is what may be considered a right end elevation showing a mechanism embodying the present invention and showing general parts lof a bookbinding machine, part y in transverse cross section on the plane 1-1 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the mechanisms shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail elevation of certain parts seen in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a front elevation of certain parts of Fig. u1.

Fig. 5 is a detail left elevation taken partly in section on the plane N5 5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a section on the plane 6 6 of ig. 3, showing the relation of knife and ork.

Referring first to some of the general machine parts not particularly concerned with the present invention, the machine has a base 9 or sometimes a series of such bases, as the machine may have considerable length. Upri ht longitudinal frame parts 10 and uprig t transverse frame parts 11 are indicated. Extending forwardly and rearwardly from the upright frame parts are a series of upper and lower cross arms 12 12 which, at their extremities, carry clamp tracks or guides 13 of a construction adapted to support and guide a succession of traveling book clamp devices 14. Only a few of these are shown in the drawings,

' but there may be an endless series of them which may be connected together in train, as is usual in the art, these clamps traveling longitudinally along the front of the machine in the tracks 13 and at the end of the machine passing around and returning by way of the corres onding tracks at the rear side, as is partlyindicated in Figs. 1 and 2.

During the forward travel of each of the book clamps it may, at a certain point in its travel, be closed upon a Ibook or signaturegroup 15, fed into the clamp in any convenient manner. Clamp closing springs 16 are shown, which is the usual method of imposing pressure u on the book between the clamp members. onnected with each clamp is a controlling arm 17 having a roller stud which coperates with a fixed clamp-controlling cam 18. In Fig. 2 an arm 17 is shown in such relation to cam 18 as to hold f the clamp 14 open. At or before this point in the travel, which is in the direction of the arrows, the signature-group or book is supposed to have been positioned within the clamp. The control arm roller is about to pass upon the inclined art of the cam 18, thereby permitting the c amp closing springs 16 to assert themselves and to secure the book in the clamp. Thereafter the forward travel of the clampholding the book is adapted, according to the present invention, to carry the book past the trimmingl mechanism hereof, so as to smoothly and effectively trim off the downwardly protruding back edge of the book or signature-group.

In combination with the book clamping device for holding the signature-group with its back edge protruding, this invention provides a constantl acting cutter or knife 2O which is prefera ly in the form of a band or stri rapidly actuated at a high rate of speed or the purpose of trimming the book edges through the relative travel, for ekample, the described forward travel of each book clamp and book. rlhe band cutter is preferably a continuous band traveling always in one direction, being mounted for this purpose at the periphery of a pair of spaced apart guide pulleys 21-21.

As will be seen, the preferable arrangement is that the plane of the band knife is substantially at right angles to the-plane of the book so as to trim off the back of the book in s uare fashion, and preferably also the direction of the length or motion of the knife is at right angles to the advancing travel of the book. The book travels horizontally in its own plane with its protruding edges standing downwardly from the clamp and the band knife 'travels horizontally in a direction at right angles to the plane of the book.

It will also be observed that the trimming mechanism hereof is adapted to operate upon the book during the advancing travel o the book; and instead of employing the long known plan of bodily reciprocating an operating mechanism along the path of book travel, this invention dispenses with the need thereof and constitutes a non-advancing mechanism adapted to operate progressively upon the advancing book, which 1s a simpler and more effective plan.

The knife band 20 may be of suitable. material, thickness and width. Its cutting edge which faces theadvancing book is produced by a bevel at its under side, whereby the actual trimming takes effect in the plane of the upper side of the knife.

It is intended that the knife shall be continuously ground to maintain Aits cutting edge, as' a result of which, the knife will be worn to narrower and narrower dimensions until required to be replaced by a new The cutting operation imposes a certain 11:0 and other parts, and herein are shown comy pressure or strain upon the book, the knife guide pulleys 21 are shown as provided with bearing flanges 22 against which the rear edgeof the band knife bears.

The front band pulley 21 may be adjustable fortaking up slack in the band knife.' Thus the bearing block of the pulley may be slidingly supported upon a bracket 23. Upstanding from the base of the machine a pair of adjusting screws 24 are provided, which maybe tightened or loosened to give the desired adjustment. The rear band pulley may be journaled 'in the frame in any desired manner andv any convenient sort of gearing or driving connections may be used for rotating it.

t the cutting point certain supports, guides and abutments are shown, which co- A operate with each otherl as will appear in maintaining the advancing knife and the advancing book or signature-group.-inia. -propisrfrslationsafer"-'the'ftrimming and in A proper V.condition so as to insure a true, even affording a guideway or positioning means for the knife which runs beneath the mem ber, and its front or uprightside or edge forming an abutment or su port for the book. Preferably the mem er 25 is not stationary, but is adjusted to advance with the book so that there will be no friction or drag between the member and book, which might tend to injure thebook. This is eected by constructing the member 25 in the form' of a rotatable disk as shown, it being supported ina bracket 26 xed for convenience to the rear side of the lower. clamp track 13 at the front of the machine. The disk 25 is rotated slowly by the book clamp in the advancing travel of the book.

In order to give more effective 'supporting and guiding action to the disk member 25, it is shown as having itsactive portion of slight vertical dimension. Thus it is shown as provided with a small outstanding iange or rim 27 at its lower side. 1t will be understood that this supporting and guiding flange 27 stands in a position tangent to the face of the advancing book, the point of tangency coinciding with the line of cut or with the cutting edge of the knife. The rear face of the book, the eective edge of the flange, and the cutting apex of the knife are all in the most intimate contact and under pressure so that it is insured that the knife will thoroughly do its work of cutting and trimming off the book with accuracy and regularity from the first to the last leaf of the book with equal better e'ectiveness than that of a powerful shear.

The portion' of the rotatable disk 25 which extends upwardly above the flange -27 serves not merely to give ri 'dity to the disk, but, by its contact with t e clamp, is caused to revolve as already stated. Since the knife. is to be held snugly up against the disk flange 27 as Will be later described, it is de` sirable to prevent any tilting -of the disk owing *to possible looseness or wear, and for this purpose 1 have provided a ber bearing piece 28 supported xedly, atthe under side of the bracket13 above the disk 25 near the book.

Another of the supporting or guiding members at the cutting point is the member 30, which like the member 25, may be in the Y sillent pressure against the book. This serves to compact the sheets, holding them in the most advantageous condition for the cutting operation. Like -the disk 25 it, therefore, coperates with the book and with the knife at the cutting point, the knife bearing directly against the underside or periphery of the disk.

For certain advantageous reasons, the disk 30 is of a dierent contour from the disk 25. Tt'does not have the vertical upstanding but for'this purpose the disk 30 is provided with a sup lemental disk 31 located as shown, to a ord an equivalent function.

The disk 30 is shown .as rotatably sup ported by a vertical shaft 32 mounted in a bearin only to permit the resilient application .of the disk to the book, but to permit adjust. ment of the parts for diHerent thicknesses of books to be trimmed. Thus the bearing 33 is shown as carried at the extremity of a swinging arm 34, the swinging of which causes the bearing and disk to moverearwardly and forwardly, that is, toward and from thedisk 25. The swinging arm 34 is vertically pivoted or journaled in a bracket 35, which is xedly mounted upon a rigid cross bar 36 of the frame of the machine. This cross bar 36 is secured at its rear end to one of the transverse upright frame members 11, and at its forward end is held up by posts 37 supported in turn upon the upstanding bracket 23 already mentioned.

Tn order to resiliently press the front rotatable disk 30 against the advancing book,

. rim by which the clamp rotates the disk,

33. This bearing is movable not v ica a strong plate spring 39 may be employed.

For adjustment for diderent thicknesses of books, the bracket 35 is adjustably coniat toward and from the line of travel of thev books. f

Having described the disks 25 and 30 which coperate in supporting the book being trimmed, and which a'ord upper guide surfaces for the traveling band knife, there will now be described the means for holding the band knife upwardly in position against the disks.

A pair of fiber supports or blocks 45, 45 are shown. These are spaced apart from each other beneath the band knife when on either side of the path of the advancing book. The book trimmings pass between the two blocks. Each of the blocks 45 opposes one of the disks 25 or 30, confining the band knife between the block and the disk.

The blocks 45 are supported on brackets 46, which, in turn are supported on the frame cross bar 36. Adjustment of the knife under supports or lblocks 45 toward and from each other is desirable for obvious reasons, and is herein permitted by reason of an adjustable boltl and slot connection 47 between each of the brackets 46, and the cross bar 36. To take up wear upon the fiber supports, they are vertically adjusted by reason of their Shanks 48 havinga sliding connection in the respective brackets 46, a set screw 49 serving to lock the parts in the desired adjustment.

Suitable adjustment may be provided to compensate for the change in the position of the knife edge due to its gradual wear. Either the knife or the pulleys about which it passes might be adjustable, but for convenience, I prefer to longitudinally adjust the mountings of the disks 25 and 30. This may easily be effected by slot or groove connections together with bolts or the like for securing of parts in adjusted position.

It is preferred to effect the automatic sharpening of the band knife upon the'lower or return run thereof near the base of the machine, and an emery wheel 52 may be employed for the purpose, it being fitted to gradually shift during the operation of the machine so as to follow up the wear of the knife.

The emery wheel is upon a short counter shaft journaled in a yoked bearing 53, a pulley 54 being secured on the shaft-with the yoke whereby the wheel may be driven at h1gh speed. The yoke bearing 53 at its upper end has a dove-tailed connection 54 with an adjustable bracket 55. The dovetailed connection permits sliding of the bearing and emery wheel longitudinally, that is, toward the edge of the band knife to be sharpened.

The adjustable bracket 55 may be set vertically into different positions, it having a sliding connection with a fixed bracket 56 secured to one of the transverse upright frame members l1. A screw threaded adj usting means controlled by a hand wheel 57 may be employed for effecting the vertical adjustment of the bracket 55 and the emery Wheel.

Fig. 4 shows a face view of the emery Wheel and a sectional view of the band knife in their normal relations. The wheel is seen to be grinding a knife edge at: the l0wer face of the band knife. This lower face becomes the upper face as the knife passes around the pulleys to the book trimming position.

The traveling band knife requires support at the point Where 1t is ground or sharpened, and for this purpose removable fiber pieces 58 and 59 are provided in pairs below and above the knife respectively. The knife traveling between them is held firmly in place. The emery wheel grinds away the traveling band knife, and, as thevknife wears down, the wheel advances between the two fiber blocks of each pair; the wheel to be replaced when the worn-out knife is renewed. A

It is desirable to remove the dust and grindings caused by the emery wheel, and for this purpose a covering hood 62 is employed, which incloses the wheel, the fiber supports and the knife. A suction pipe 63 is shown as entering the inclosed space, this having at its mouth a funnel-shaped cap 64 which helps conduct the fine grindings into the suction pipe. The pipe 63 may be connected to a dust box in a usual manner, from which dust box a suction blower draws oil' the dust and grindings.

In order to e'ect a very slow automatic advance of the emery wheel toward the band knife, the following may be employed:

A feed screw 66, see Figs. 4 and 5, may be employed for the purpose, it being en gaged in a screw threaded recess at the extremity of the bracket 55. One end of the screw 66 is connected to the yoked bearing piece 53 so as to advance the bearing and emery Wheel. The other end of the screw 66 is provided with a hand wheel 67, whereby the screw may be turned by hand, for example, for restoring the parts upon the introduction of a new band knife. A gradual rotation of the feed screw 66 will effect the desired feed. This may be accomplished by means of a pawl and ratchet device comprising, for example, a triple ratchet wheel 68 splined upon the feed screw shank. 'A pawl frame 69 carries three pawls 70 engaging the portions of the ratchet respectively. The upper endv of the pawl frame 69 is connected by a rod 71, see also Fig. 1, with a vibrating lever 72 carrying a cam roll at its upper end adapted to be thrust outwardly upon every rotation of the band pulley 21 by means of a cam 73 on the ment, which is transmitted so as to gradually advance the -emery Wheel in the desired manner.

It will be seen that byreason of the construction above shown and described, a bookbinding 4machin e..or bookbinding mechanism is provided which answers the objects and affords the advantages of the invention as hereinbefore set forth. It is'to be understood that the invention in its vbroader as-` substantially edgewise in its own plane with its back edge protruding, and a mechanism for progressively trimming od the folded back edges of the successive books in such way as to expose each individual leaf to subsequent operations, said mechanism comprising a movable trimming tool or blade standing across the path of book travel, and means for actuating said tool, whereby the trimming of each book is progressively performed by reason of the advancing travel of the latter in said carrier, and a confining means at each side of the book constructed to advance in unison with the book travel and each of said confining means arranged to, contact both the book and the blade at the cuttin point whereby to maintain the continuous y traveling book constantly in proper relation to the blade during the progressive trimming of 'the book by the blade.

2. A bookbinding machine including, in combination, a book carrying mechanism for holding a procession of signature groups and advancing them continuously through the machine with each oup held so-as to travel substantially edgewise in its own plane with its back' edge protruding, and a mechanism for progressively trimming od the folded 'at back edges of the successive books, said mechanism comprising a movable trimming tool or blade standing across the path of book.

travel, means for actuating said tool, whereby the trimming of each book is progressively performed by reason of the advancing travel of the latter in said carrier, and opposed rotary conlining devices contacting both the advancing book and moving blade for maintaining the correct relation of blade and book during trimming.

8. A bookbinding mechanism including in combination an advancing book clamp adapted to carry a book edgewise and with its untrimmed edge protruding, means for guiding the advancing clamp, an endless trimming blade arranged across the path of the advancing...book, means for causing the travel of the trimming blade to progressively trim the advancing book, and a support with Which both the protruding book-edge and the trimming blade contact at the cutting point, said support adapted lto compact the book leaves and at the same time c0-act with the traveling blade in the trimming of the book.

4. A bookbinding mechanism including in combination an advancing book clamp adapted to carry a book edgewise and with its untrimmed edge protruding, means for guiding the advancing clamp, an endless trlmming blade arranged across the path of the advancing book, means for causing the travel of the trimming blade to progressively trim the advancing book, and a revoluble support ing disk arranged tangentially to the book and in bearing Contact with the trimming blade at the cutting point.

5. A bookbinding mechanism including in.

combination an advancing book clamp adapted to carry a book edgevvise and with its untrimmed edge protruding, means for guiding the advancing clamp. an endless trimming blade arranged across the path of the advancing book, means for causing the travel of the trimming blade to progressively trim the advancing book, and a support with lil@ which both 'the protruding book-edge and .y

the trimming blade contact at the cutting point, said support adapted -to compact the book leaves and at 'the same time co-act with "Ulti the traveling blade in the trimming of the y book; and a second similar. support resiliently opposed to said support at side of the book. l 6. A bookbinding mechanism including in combination an advancing book clamp adapted to carry a book edgewise and with its untrimmed edge protruding, means for guiding the advancing clamp, an endless trimming blade arranged across the path of the advancing book, means for causmg the travel of the trimming blade to rogressively trim the advancing book, an a support with which both the protruding book-edge and the trimming blade contact at the cutting point, said support adapted to com pact the book leaves and at the same time co-act with the traveling blade in the trimming of the book; and a second similar support resiliently opposed to said support at the other side ot the book; and bearing means at the opposite side of the blade holding it to said supports.

7. A bookbindmg mechanism including in combination an advancing book clamp the lother lll@ iat

adapted to carry a book edgewise and with its untrimmed edge protruding, means for guiding the advancing clamp, an endless trimming blade arranged across the path of the advancing book, means for causing the travel of the trimming blade to progressively trim the advancing book, and a revoluble supporting disk arranged tangentially to the book and in bearing contact with the trimming blade at the cutting point; and a second similar support resiliently op osed to said support at the other side of the book.

8. A bookbinding mechanism including in combination an advancing book clamp adapted to carry a book edgewise and with its untrimmed edge protruding, means for guiding the advancing clamp, an endless trimming blade arranged across the path of the advancing book, means for causing the travel of the trimming blade to rogressively trim the advancing book, an a revoluble supporting disk arranged tangentially to the book and in bearing contact with the trimming blade at the cutting point, and means for adjusting said disk transversely of the blade travel to compensate for Wear of said blade.

9. A bookbinding mechanism including 'in combination an advancing book clamp adapted to carry a book edgewise and with its untrimmed edge protruding, means for guiding the advancing clamp, an endless with the trimming blade at the cutting point; and a second similar support resiliently opposed to said support at the other side of the book, and means for adjusting one of said disks transversely of the book for varying thicknesses of book.

10. A bookbinding mechanism including in combination an advancing book clamp adapted to carry a book edgewise and with its'untrimmed edge protruding, means for guiding the advancing.. clamp, an endless trimming blade arranged across ,the path of the advancing book, means for causing the travel of the trimming bliide to progressively trim the advancing book, and a revoluble supporting disk arranged tangentially to the book and in bearing contact with the trimming blade at the cutting point, and means for adjusting said disk transversely of the blade travel to compensate for Wear of said blade and automatically acting means for continuously sharpening the edge of said blade.

l1. A bookbinding mechanism including in combination an advancing book clamp, means for guiding the advancing clamp, an endless trimming blade arranged across the path of the advancing book, and means for causing the rapid travel of the trimming blade continuously in one direction during the advance of the book and automatically acting means for continuously sharpening the edge of said blade, comprising a rotating abrasive Wheel and means for relatively feeding it to follow up the wear of the blade, and opposed blade guiding plates arranged to be ground with the blade.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specication, 1n the presence of two subscribing Witnesses ALFRED BREDENBERG. v

Witnesses:

G, O. DUs'rrN, JN0. H. CRooK. 

